Custom Pool Questions & Answers

In the vast majority of cases, yes. It depends on the size of the space, access to the backyard, existing site conditions, local zoning and building rules, and any neighborhood covenants. Each city has its own rules: Scottsdale maps protected desert (NAOS) and setbacks on a site plan, Paradise Valley reviews pools on hillside lots, and Phoenix inspects every pool barrier before plaster. Our Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix pages explain what that means for your lot.

The three types of in-ground pool are fiberglass, vinyl liner and concrete (also called shotcrete or gunite). We design and build only concrete pools. Built properly, concrete is the most durable option and the only one that allows truly custom shapes, depths, edges and finishes. Fiberglass and vinyl can be functional at a lower price point, but they are limited in customization, appearance and the longevity of the in-ground structure.

Shape, size and water depths; finish materials such as tile, coping and the interior finish; features like spas, vanishing edges, water and fire features; access to your backyard; and site work such as demolition, grading, retaining walls or drainage. Every project is custom-priced, and we give you a clear range at your design consultation.

Start with the license: confirm the contractor on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors site (Morris Pools is AZ ROC #320987). Then look at finished work and independent recognition rather than renderings, ask who designs the pool and who builds it, and ask how permits, HOA approvals and inspections are handled. For remodels, ask whether every pool is pressure-tested and what the warranty covers. Finally, meet the people who will run your project. At Morris Pools that is a family-owned team, led by its owner.

Anything that shows how you want to live outdoors: photos you love, your architect's or builder's plans if the home is new, a survey or plot plan if you have one, and your HOA guidelines. We'll talk through the site, the features that matter most and a realistic range, then explain the design, permit and construction steps.

Yes. We take on projects another contractor couldn't finish, and we correct work that wasn't done right. Every takeover starts with an evaluation of what is already in the ground. See pool remodeling for how we approach existing pools.

There are four stages: design, permits and approvals, construction, and start-up. Design comes first, then permits and any HOA or hillside review your lot needs, and those can take longer on hillside and estate properties. Construction typically takes about 4 to 6 months once permits are approved, depending on the size of the project, custom features and weather; in Phoenix, for example, the City inspects every new pool before gunite and again before plaster. At start-up we program your equipment and walk you through everything. You get a target timeline before construction begins.

Anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months, depending on the scope. A new interior finish is quicker than a full redesign with new depths and decking, and hidden issues sometimes surface once work begins. See resurfacing, tile and coping, decking and equipment upgrades for each type of project.

A vanishing (infinity or negative) edge lets water spill over one or more edges into a hidden catch basin, so the surface appears to meet the view. A perimeter-overflow pool spills over every edge, so the water sits flush with the deck like a mirror. Both depend on a dead-level edge and carefully engineered hydraulics. Read more on our vanishing-edge pools page.

Yes. Our technicians provide weekly service and equipment repairs in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Cave Creek and Tempe. See what weekly service includes.